Carelink Recruiting Participants for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program

East Providence, R.I. (August 31, 2022): CareLink, a nonprofit healthcare network of post-acute and community-based providers serving adults with complex health issues, announces statewide recruitment efforts for its Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative.

The program is open at no cost to older people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) living in Rhode Island at home alone or with a care partner or family; individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are at greater risk for developing dementia; and persons living in ethnically and culturally diverse communities with limited access to medical care due to economic, language or other barriers.

Funded by a three-year $904,153 federal grant awarded in 2021 from the Administration for Community Living (a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), the program enables CareLink to partner collaboratively with other Rhode Island organizations to develop and implement new support services and treatment programs for participants. Services include occupational and speech therapy, connections to resources, caregiver education, and case management.

“Last year, we spent time in the early stages of the grant planning, identifying community resources and referral organizations such as medical providers and senior agencies, and training staff,” states Dr. Chris Gadbois, chief executive officer of CareLink, Inc. “Training for CareLink occupational therapists and speech language pathologists now enables us to deliver in the home environment two nationally recognized, evidence-based specialty treatment programs that are well-regarded in the field of dementia.”

One of the treatments is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy to actively stimulate and engage people with mild to moderate dementia. Individual and group sessions of themed activity, led by speech language pathologists and occupational therapists, provide learning and social benefits. “Activities can include but are not limited to discussing current news, listening or singing to music, playing word games, and baking, for example,” explains Gadbois.

The other treatment is called Skills2Care® which enables trained occupational therapists to work with caregivers to set up or modify daily routines, use effective strategies, make the home safer, and handle difficult behaviors that can trigger nursing home placement. “What’s wonderful about this particular intervention is that it is focused on self-care for the caregiver such as teaching them stress management techniques, which is so important,” adds Gadbois.

The grant initiative has helped CareLink lead collaboration with other medical and service providers to create a network-based system of specialized care to make a difference in the lives of those living with ADRD. Gadbois notes, “It’s all about impacting the quality of life and independence of those with dementia and cognitive disabilities, to live longer and successfully in their home and community. Our goal is to build a sustainable system for Rhode Island long after the life of the grant.”

For more information on the Alzheimer’s Disease Program Initiative at CareLink, or to refer an individual or caregiver, contact ADPLdementia@carelink.org  or (401) 490-7610 x116.

Established in 1997, CareLink Rhode Island is a nonprofit network of post-acute and community-based providers and direct care staff serving adults with complex health issues. Its membership base includes home care, hospice, adult day health, long-term care, assisted living, short-term and outpatient rehabilitation, and independent living providers throughout Rhode Island. CareLink, Inc. is located at 400 Massasoit Avenue, Suite 113 in East Providence, RI 02914; phone: 401.490.7610; web: www.carelinkri.org.